Development of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells at Versa Power Systems & FuelCell Energy

Abstract

Fuel Cell Energy, inc (FCE) and its wholly-owned subsidiary Versa Power Systems (VPS) are advancing the current state of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) technology towards commercial deployment for efficient and nonpolluting generation of electric power from natural gas and other fuels such as coal. SOFC technology represents an important opportunity to utilize fossil fuels in an efficient and environmentally-friendly manner. SOFCs are scalable, efficient (not subject to Carnot cycle limitations), and produce low emissions (e.g. nitrogen oxides) compared to combustion-based electrical power generation technologies (due to lower operating temperatures). SOFC power systems have the potential to achieve greater than 60 percent efficiency (based on higher heating value of fuel) and more than 97 percent carbon capture at a cost-of-electricity that is projected to be approximately 40 percent below that presently available through integrated gasification fuel cell (IGFC) systems with carbon capture. An attractive pathway to deployment of either IGFC or natural gas-fueled fuel cell (NGFC) systems is through near-term market opportunities in natural gas fueled distributed generation (DG) applications. The recent advancements in the base technology include: Reduced anode thickness from 1 mm to 0.6 mmDemonstration of steady-state cell operation at 500 mA/cm2 for over 2 years with less than 0.35% per 1000 hour degradation rateDemonstration of stable cell operation in high cathode gas humidity environment